Plant Controller

Lever, Inc.; Peterborough; Hybrid; GBP 65,000 - 85,000; Full time

Job summary

IRCA Group is seeking a Plant Controller for the Peterborough site in the United Kingdom to oversee financial and industrial controlling activities, partnering with Operations to optimize costs and profitability. The role focuses on cost, inventory, and KPI analysis, providing financial insight and recommendations to support performance improvement.

You will lead month-end processes, manage product costing, and ensure data integrity across ERP systems, with regular on-site presence and

Qualifications

• Education: Degree in Finance, Accounting, Economics, Business Administration, Industrial Engineering or a related field.
• Experience: Minimum 5 years in Plant Controlling, Industrial Controlling or Operations Finance within a manufacturing environment, including standard costing, inventory control, budgeting, forecasting and variance analysis.
• Professional Skills: Strong knowledge of industrial controlling, costing and manufacturing finance; ability to leverage ERP systems, analytics and financial modelling for data-driven decisions.
• IT Skills: Advanced Excel; ERP systems (Infor M3 preferred); Power BI and data analytics tools.
• Languages: Fluent English (written and spoken).
• Soft skills: Business partnering, analytical and influencing skills; proactive, results-oriented mindset; strong judgement; drive for performance improvement in fast-paced manufacturing.

Responsibilities

• Partner with plant leadership to provide financial insights and recommendations for operational and strategic decisions.
• Monitor and analyze plant performance, including manufacturing costs, productivity, inventory and KPIs.
• Lead plant controlling and management reporting; perform variance analysis against budget, forecast, standard cost and prior year.
• Coordinate month-end closing for manufacturing operations; ensure data accuracy and alignment between operations and finance.
• Manage product costing processes, including standard cost maintenance and variance analysis.
• Oversee inventory financial control; support stock accuracy, valuation, working capital and stock counts.
• Support budgeting, forecasting and business case development for initiatives and improvements.
• Ensure data integrity and compliance with internal controls and ERP reporting systems.

Skills

Business partnering

Analytical thinking

Influencing

Results-oriented mindset

Education

Degree in Finance, Accounting, Economics, Business Administration, Industrial Engineering or related field

Tools

Infor M3

Power BI

Excel

Job description

Who We Are:

Founded in Italy in 1919, IRCA Group is a leading international B2B provider of high-quality semi-finished ingredients for the food industry, including chocolate, creams, decorations, inclusions, nuts and pistachios, pastry mixes, gelato ingredients, and other specialty solutions. Today, IRCA Group employs more than 2,200 people, operates 20 manufacturing facilities worldwide, and generates approximately €1 billion in annual revenues.

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What We Offer

• A dynamic, inclusive and international environment with exposure to multiple functions and senior stakeholders, with opportunities to work on global projects and collaborate with colleagues worldwide.
• Career growth opportunities, with a highly visible role combining commercial activities, product promotion and customer engagement.
  The opportunity to work closely with customers, distributors and sales teams, building strong
• professional relationships across the market.

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The Role

The Plant Controller oversees the financial and industrial controlling activities of the Peterborough manufacturing site, ensuring accurate monitoring of manufacturing costs, inventory and plant profitability. Acting as a Finance Business Partner to the Plant Manager and Operations teams, the role provides financial insight and recommendations to support operational performance, cost optimization and business decision‑making.

What will you do:

• Partner with plant leadership to provide financial insights, performance analysis and recommendations that support operational and strategic decision-making.
• Monitor and analyse plant performance, including manufacturing costs, productivity, inventory, profitability and key operational KPIs.
• Lead plant controlling and management reporting activities, ensuring accurate variance analysis against budget, forecast, standard cost and prior year.
• Coordinate month‑end closing activities related to manufacturing operations, ensuring accuracy, compliance and alignment between operational and financial data.
• Manage product costing processes, including standard cost maintenance, cost roll reviews and analysis of manufacturing variances.
• Oversee inventory financial control, supporting stock accuracy, inventory valuation, working capital management and periodic stock counts.
• Support budgeting, forecasting and business case development for operational initiatives, investments and continuous improvement projects.
• Ensure data integrity, compliance with internal controls and accounting policies, while promoting the effective use of ERP and reporting systems.

Requierements:

• Education: Degree in Finance, Accounting, Economics, Business Administration, Industrial Engineering or a related field.
• Experience: Minimum 5 years of experience in Plant Controlling, Industrial Controlling or Operations Finance within a manufacturing environment, in standard costing, inventory control, budgeting, forecasting and manufacturing variance analysis.
• Professional Skills: Strong knowledge of industrial controlling, costing and manufacturing finance, with the ability to leverage ERP systems, advanced analytics and financial modelling to support data‑driven decision‑making and business performance.
• IT Skills: Advanced Microsoft Excel. ERP systems (Infor M3 preferred). Power BI and data analytics tools.
• Languages: Fluent English (both written and spoken).
• Soft skills: Strong business partnering, analytical and influencing skills, combined with a proactive, results‑oriented mindset, sound judgement and the ability to drive performance improvement in a fast‑paced manufacturing environment.

Other details:

• Location: Peterborough manufacturing site, with regular on-site presence required. Occasional travel to other Group locations may be required.
• Working hours: Full time, 40h/week, from Monday to Friday
• Eligibility to work in the United Kingdom is required.

IRCA fosters a dynamic environment, valuing different perspectives and international experiences, offering a stimulating context. We promote professional growth and career opportunities locally and internationally. With locations worldwide, we offer the chance to work on international projects, collaborate across cultures, and gain a global perspective. If you are looking for stimulating challenges and the chance to contribute your ideas for process improvement in an ever-growing company, IRCA is the right place.

We welcome applications from candidates of all genders, backgrounds, identities, nationality, ethnic origin, sexual orientation, marital status, disability, parental responsibilities, age, religion, or belief. We believe in equal opportunities for all and ensure that our hiring process complies with the highest standards of non-discrimination and inclusivity. IRCA Group is dedicated to fostering a diverse and inclusive work environment where everyone can be their authentic selves, reach their full potential, and feel a true sense of belonging. Join us in creating a workplace where diversity is valued, and everyone can thrive.